F0/EF0 1 2 3 4 5 · Lines run from where each tornado touched down to where it lifted; dots are short paths. Neighboring counties are outlined.
When tornadoes hit Polk County
May has brought the most, 17 of 38. About 42% touched down between 4 pm and 10 pm (Central Standard Time, as the Storm Prediction Center records it). Winter tornadoes (December to February) make up 21% of the total, a sign of the cool-season storms common in the South.
By decade
More tornadoes in recent decades mostly reflects better detection and reporting (Doppler radar, storm spotters, damage surveys), especially for weak EF0 tornadoes, not necessarily more storms. The 2020s bar covers only 2020 to 2024.
How strong they were
| Rating | Estimated 3-second gust | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | Light damage: 65 to 85 mph (EF scale) | 20 |
| F1 / EF1 | Moderate: 86 to 110 mph | 14 |
| F2 / EF2 | Considerable: 111 to 135 mph | 3 |
| F3 / EF3 | Severe: 136 to 165 mph | 1 |
| F4 / EF4 | Devastating: 166 to 200 mph | 0 |
| F5 / EF5 | Incredible: over 200 mph | 0 |
Tornadoes before February 2007 were rated on the original Fujita (F) scale; since then the National Weather Service uses the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale. Wind speeds above are EF-scale estimates from damage, not measurements. See what the EF scale means.
The strongest tornadoes in Polk County
| Date | Rating | Path length | Path width | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2003 | F3 | 86 mi | 880 yd | 5 | 47 |
| December 14, 1971 | F2 | 48.3 mi | 200 yd | 1 | 22 |
| February 28, 2012 | EF2 | 9.5 mi | 100 yd | 1 | 12 |
| March 13, 1990 | F2 | 2 mi | 600 yd | ||
| December 18, 2002 | F1 | 11 mi | 100 yd | 2 | |
| September 27, 1959 | F1 | 0.2 mi | 10 yd | 1 | |
| October 5, 1955 | F1 | 2 mi | 77 yd | ||
| May 12, 1978 | F1 | 3.6 mi | 100 yd | ||
| May 8, 2009 | EF1 | 8.6 mi | 250 yd | ||
| November 24, 2010 | EF1 | 0.8 mi | 200 yd |
Deaths and injuries are for each tornado’s whole path, which can cross other counties.
The deadliest
The deadliest tornado to touch Polk County was an F3 on May 4, 2003. It killed 5 people and injured 47 along its 86-mile path.
Most recent tornadoes
| Date | Rating | Path length | Path width | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2024 | EF0 | 18.7 mi | 150 yd | 1 | |
| May 27, 2021 | EF1 | 1.2 mi | 50 yd | ||
| May 27, 2021 | EF1 | 0.1 mi | 50 yd | ||
| January 10, 2020 | EF1 | 8.7 mi | 50 yd | ||
| December 28, 2019 | EF0 | 1.4 mi | 75 yd | ||
| April 30, 2019 | EF1 | 1.8 mi | 100 yd | ||
| May 19, 2018 | EF1 | 2 mi | 100 yd | ||
| May 19, 2018 | EF1 | 2.3 mi | 100 yd |
The official database ends with 2024. For storms since then, see the Storm Prediction Center’s reports and your local National Weather Service office.
FEMA’s tornado risk rating
FEMA’s National Risk Index rates the tornado risk in Polk County as relatively moderate, with a score of 73 out of 100 compared with every other U.S. county. It estimates about 0.45 tornadoes a year here and an expected annual loss of about $2,450,450 to buildings, people and farming. The index mixes how often tornadoes strike with what is exposed and how well a community can recover, so a busy rural county can rate lower than a less active city.
Neighboring counties
- Greene County, MO: 55 tornadoes
- Dade County, MO: 27 tornadoes
- St. Clair County, MO: 24 tornadoes
- Cedar County, MO: 20 tornadoes
- Dallas County, MO: 19 tornadoes
- Hickory County, MO: 16 tornadoes
Staying safe
When a tornado warning is issued, act at once. Go to a basement, storm shelter or safe room. With none, use a small windowless room on the lowest floor, as far from outside walls as you can, and cover your head and neck. Mobile homes and cars are not safe places to ride out a tornado: leave early for a sturdy building or shelter. Read the full tornado safety guide and the National Weather Service advice linked below.
Sources
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: Severe Weather Database, tornadoes 1950 to 2024 (public domain)
- FEMA National Risk Index, tornado county data (December 2025 release)
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale)
- National Weather Service: Tornado safety
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.